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Compare the following two poems: "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost and "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.
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Though both "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost and "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe explore themes of loneliness, loneliness within darkness, and existential choice, the two poems differ in the way they demonstrate these themes. In "The Road Not Taken," the speaker is presented with a decision that they know will have lasting consequences. Even though their chosen path is one less traveled by, they feel no regret or sorrow in the decision they make. In contrast, the speaker in "The Raven" is met with a bright and gothic imagination as he grapples with the tragedy of his past love. He is left hopeless and alone, reflecting on his many decisions that have brought him to his solitary fate. In both poems, the themes of loneliness, loneliness within darkness, and existential choice are intertwined in unique ways. Ultimately, the difference lies in that Frost's poem is hopeful and existential, while Poe's is dark and filled with despair.